IMPACT, Injury Prevention

Injury: The Hidden Epidemic

“Injury” has been referred to as the hidden epidemic. Every day in Canada, 40 people die, over 600 are hospitalized and many others are disabled due to some type of injury. Injury is the leading cause of death for Canadians from 1-44 years of age.

The impact of injury is greatest among the young and the old. Injury causes more childhood deaths than all diseases and conditions combined, however over one-third of all injury deaths and hospitalizations are among adults 65 years of age and older.

The Local Injury Problem

Manitoba’s injury mortality and hospitalization rates are above the Canadian average. Between 2000 and 2013, 727 Manitobans died and 10,970 were hospitalized due to injuries each year.
Each year, injuries cost Manitobans $1.2 billion in direct health care cost (Parachute, Cost of Injury. 2015).
In Winnipeg, injury is the fourth leading cause of death for all age groups. Each year, 360 Winnipeg residents die and 5,100 are hospitalized due to injury (WRHA, Injury Report, 2014).

IMPACT, the injury prevention team, works with public health staff, government and community groups to help prevent injuries in people of all ages living in Winnipeg.

We do this through:

Injury Prevention Strategic Priorities